Gwen is a nurse, 3 years out of nursing school, working in a cardiac intensive care unit taking care of 68 year old female patient who had suffered a large heart attack.
Patient Presentation
Nurse is caring for a 68 year old female in the Cardiac Care Unit following a myocardial infarction. Patient is stable. Nurse is drawing prescribed anti-hypertension medication and in light conversation with nearby staff.
Initial Assessment
What do you think is going on with this patient?
(everyone to answer)
Initial Assessment ( ~3 min)
Almost immediately after drug administration ...
patient becomes lethargic, pale, and hypotensive.
Patient Declining
Rapid Response
Share what you are most concerned about.
(everyone to answer)
Review Assessment ( ~3 min)
Nurse realizes that she had accidentally double dosed patient on anti-hypertension medication.
Response Team Called ....
Gwen's Story
Summary:
Patient critical for 4 hours, survives and is discharged after 6 days.
Gwen becomes a strong patient safety advocate and helps establish multiple initiatives including safe medication administration at her facility
Team Debrief
What can our team learn from this case to improve the care in a similar situation?
